Foldable anchor



Juy 2, 1957 J. H.V SMITH FOLDABLE ANCHOR Filed Aug. 25, 1954 JOHN H J/vr/r/-l @ONM FULDABLE ANCHR JohnH. SmithFerndaleyMieh. Application August 25,1954, Serial No. 452,031 6 Claims. (Cl. 114-207) This invention relates to an anchor having a foldable stock so that it canbe stowed compactly in a relatively small space.

The inventionis applicablel generally to various types of anchors and is especially useful as i applied to small anchors such as thoseused by fishermen. In fishing from a stationary boat, a single anchor is usually suicient ,to prevent the boat from drifting to anygreat extent. However, the boat mayshift its position around its anchor responsively to slight breezes and-slight local currents in the water. This shiftingis frequently objectionable to the angler. Using a second anchor of an ordinary type as an auxiliary anchor to prevent this shifting is generally unsatisfactory because such anchors are relativelyexpensive, heavy, bulky andhard to handleA and transport.

An object of this invention is to provide a strong, simple, inexpensive auxiliary anchor structure which can be folded to compact form for stowingin an anglers bait box. are abutted together to form the anchor shank withtheir end .portions fashioned outwardly to provideilukes.. The stock is pivoted on the shank for folding to inoperative position and is axially shiftable for disengaging a shoulder'which normally. holds the stock in transverse or operative position. Threaded means fix the stock selectively in operative or inoperative position.f In'the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational viewof an yanchor according to this inventionwith its stock in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a front elevationof the anchor with its stock in operative position.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation.v of the anchor with its stock in inoperative position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified form `of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentaryfront elevationalview of the modification of Fig. 4 illustratingthe stock in operative position.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view showing a third modification of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the form illustrated in Fig. 6 and showing the stock in inoperative position.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspectiveV View of the upper end of the-shank of the anchor illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.

The anchor shown in Fig. 1 has a straight shank 10 comprised of two metal straps 11-and` 12 secured in abutting relation by such means as rivets 13. The lower end portions of metal straps 11 'and 12 are formed symmetrically outwardly to provide iiukes ;14 andl5 and the ukes preferably have pointed ends as shown. The upper end portion 18 of strap 11 extends beyond the upper end 19 of strap 12 so that end 19 forms a transverse shoulder on the shank.

A stock 20 is pivotally mounted on the shank preferably by such means as a screw 21 positioned adjacent shoulder 19. The ends of the stock are preferably pointed as shown in Fig. 2. A wing nut 22 is threaded onto kscrew 21 and the end of the screw is preferably deformed In accordance with the invention, metalstraps,

l Sttes Patent Patented July 2, 1957 ice l as at 23 to prevent accidental removal of the wing nut therefrom. Stock 20 has an edge portion 25 which is selectively engageable and` disengageable with` shoulder 19 .by shifting stock 20 axially on pivot 21. Strap 11 has a projecting pin 26Y disposed on the opposite side of pivot 21 from..shoulder.19. Upper end 18 of the shank-is apertured as at 27 for attachment to anchor line 28 (Fig. l) by such means yas a swivel snap fastener 29.

In use, it mayfbe assumedthat the anchor is in inoperative position as shownin Fig. 3 with stock 20 folded parallel to shank 10. -Wingfnut 22-is tightened against one side ofthe stock and the other side is supported by rivets 13 and support pin 26. To unfold the anchor for use, Wingnut 22 .is loosened,l stock 20 is pivoted transverselyA to shank 10'and the stockis shifted axially on pivot 21 to bring edge 25 into engagement with shoulder 19. Wing -nut 22 is then tightenedto fix the stock firmly against strapll and in this position shoulder 19 -secures the stock against rotation relativelyv to the shank. Anchor line28 may then be attached to upper end portion 18 of theanchor such as by fastener 29 'engaging within aperture 2.7.

The anchor may then be dropped overboard. Flukes 14 and `15 will engagelin marine growth to arrest motion of-theboatorif the lakeA or stream bed is barren, the sharpened -pointsof theflukes will engage irregularities thereon or penetrate a soft bed to ,arrest motion of the boat. The stock serves in .the usual manner to tumble the anchorto insure engagement `of the iiukes with the bottom. The, sharp ends of the` stock provide improved purchase on thebottom to-.facilitate the tumbling action. When the anchor is used as an auxiliary anchor to prevent drifting of the4 boat around a main anchor, anchor line 28 is secured` to theboat at a point removed from the main anchor line.

To fold the anchor after use wing nut 22. is loosened; stock 20 is shifted axially of pivot f21 to disengage edge 25 from shoulder 19; the stock is swiveled to a position parallel to shank 10 and the wing nut again tightened so that the stock is firmly engaged against support 26 and rivets.13.' The stock, shank and flukes all liein substantially 'the saine plane in inoperative position so that the anchor may be conveniently stowed in a relatively small space such. as a isherrnans tackle box. Anchor lineV 28 may Abestowed with the anchor or may be removed as desired.

The strap metal construction4 facilitates simple andinexpensive manufacture and at the same time provides adequate strength. The anchor is very light, easily transportable and convenient to handle. The principles of this invention maybe incorporated into relatively small units for use as auxiliary anchors or into larger units for use as main anchors.

Figs. 4 and-'5 show a modified form of the invention with similar parts being identified by similar reference characters. This form of the invention is similar to the principal form except that metal straps 31 and 32 are secured together `by spot welding as at 33 to form shank 34. Projection 35, forming the support for stock 20 in inoperative position, comprises an upset portion of strap 31 having a height substantially equal to `the thickness of strap 32'(Fig. 5).

Figs; 6, 7 and 8 illustrate another modificationof `the reference characters. This modification is similar to the principal form of the invention except that shank 37 is 3 the supports for the stock when it is folded parallel to shank 37 in inoperative position.

Operation of the two modified forms of the invention is similar to operation of the principal form described above.

I claim:

1. An anchor comprising, a shank, a plurality of lukes projecting laterally from one end of said shank, a stock, said lstock being pivotally mounted adjacent the other end of the shank for swinging to `operative position transverse to the shank and inoperative position parallel thereto, means forming a shoulder on said shank, said stock having an edge portion, said shoulder being positioned to engage said edge portion of said stock to secure the same nonrotatably in operative position, said stock being shiftable axially on its pivotal mount to disengage said edge portion from said shoulder, `said stock having a face portion supportingly engaged by said shank in inoperative position, and releasable means fixing said stock selectively in operative position and inoperative position.

2. An anchor comprising, a shank, a plurality of flukes projecting laterally from one end of said shank, a stock, said stock being pivotally mounted adjacent the other end of the shank for swinging to operative position transverse to the shank and inoperative position parallel to and overlying said shank, means forming a shoulder on said shank, said shoulder being positioned to engage -a portion of said stock to secure the same in operative position, said st-ock being shiftable axially on its pivotal mount for engaging and disengaging said shoulder, said shank having a laterally projecting support disposed on the opposite side of the pivotal mount from said shoulder, said stock projecting over said shoulder and engaging said support in inoperative position, and releasable means releasably fixing said stock selectively in operative position and inoperative position, Y

3. An anchor comprising, a iirst member and a second member, each member having a straight portion and a laterally extending end portion, means securing said straight portions in abutment to form a shank with said end portions projecting outwardly to form ukes, the other end of said first member projecting beyond the other end of said second member so that the latter forms a transverse shoulder on said shank, a stock, said stock being pivotally mounted -on said shank for swinging to operative position transverse to said shank and inoperative position parallel thereto, said stock being axially shittable on its pivotal mounting for engaging said shoulder in operative position and disengaging said shoulder for swinging to inoperative position, and releasable means fixing said stock selectively in said positions.

4. An anchor comprising, a first member and a second member, said members having relatively thin broad strap form with face portions and edge portions, each member having a straight portion and a laterally extending end portion, means securing said straight portions together with said face portions thereof in abutment to form a shank with said end portions projecting outwardly to form linkes, the -other end of said first member projecting beyond the other end of said second member so that the latter forms a transverse shoulder on said shank, a stock having relatively thin broad strap form with face portions and edge portions, said stock being pivotally mounted on said rst member adjacent said shoulder for swinging to operative position transverse to said shank and inoperative position parallel thereto, said stock being axially shiftable on its pivotal mounting for engaging and disengaging an edge portion thereof with said shoulder, whereby respectively to secure said stock non-rotatably in operative position and to swing said stock to inoperative position, a face portion of said second member supportingly engaging a face portion of said stock in inoperative position, and releasable means xing said stock selectively in said positions.

5. An anchor comprising, a first member and a second member, each member having generally flat form with an edge portion and a face portion, each member having a straight portion and a laterally extending end portion, means securing said straight portions in abutment to form a shank with said end portions projecting outwardly to form iiukes, the other end of said first member projecting beyond the other end of said second member so that the latter forms a transverse shoulder on said shank, a stock, said stock being pivotally mounted on said shank for swinging to operative position transverse to said shank and inoperative position parallel thereto, a projection on said face portion of said iirst member, said projection being on the opposite side of said pivotal mounting from said shoulder, said stock having an edge portion and a face portion,` said st-ock being axially shiftable on its pivotal mounting for engaging said edge portion with said shoulder in operative position and disengaging said edge portion and shoulder for swinging to inoperative position, said projection and said second member supportingly en- Y gaging said face portion of said stock in inoperative position, and means associated with said pivotal mounting releasably iixing said stock selectively in said positions.

6. An anchor comprising, a first member and a second member, each member having generally ilat form with edge and face portions, each member having a straight portion and a laterally extending end portion, means securing said straight portions together with said face portions in abutment to form a shank With said end portions projecting outwardly to form linkes, the other end of said iirst member projecting beyond the other end of said second member, said iirst member having substantially oppositely disposed struck-up edge portions forming transverse sh-oulder means adjacent said other end thereof, a stock, said stock being pivoted on said first member adjacent said shoulder means for swinging to operative position transverse to the shank and inoperative position parallel thereto, said stock having an edge porti-on and a face portion, said stock being axially shiftable `on its pivotal mounting for engaging and disengaging said edge portion thereof and said shoulder means, whereby respectively to secure said stock non-rotatably in operative position and to swing sai-d stock to inoperative position, said shoulder means and said second member supportingly engaging lsaid face portion of stock in inoperative position, and means associated with said pivotal mounting releasably xing said stock selectively in operative and inoperative positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 401,654 Laughlin Apr. 16, 1889 857,094 McBride June 18, 1907 1,101,718 Terrien June 30, 1914 1,882,354 Celenza Oct. 11, 1932 2,394,845 Cothern Feb. 12, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,020 Great Britain Apr. 29, 1856 

